Bleeding gums can be an alarming sign that there is something wrong with your oral health. Some of the reasons include brushing your teeth vigorously, gum disease, inflammation, or pregnancy.
Knowing the exact reason why your gums are bleeding goes a long way toward identifying the right treatment. Below are a few tips on how to stop bleeding gums and the benefits of doing so.
1. Follow Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Maintaining a clean and healthy mouth is one of the best ways to prevent bleeding gums. Brush your teeth twice a day. Not only will you remove bacteria that can cause gum disease, but you’ll also stimulate blood flow to your gums.
Floss once a day. Not only will you remove plaque and other plaque-causing bacteria, but the motion will also loosen any existing gum issues.
Clean your tongue regularly with a toothbrush and water. It will help eliminate harmful bacteria in your mouth and clean away microscopic pieces of food that can embed themselves in the gum tissue and cause inflammation and bleeding.
2. Use salt water to rinse your mouth
Saltwater effectively rinses away food and bacteria from your mouth, which can help stop bleeding gums. Simply mix one teaspoon of salt with at least eight ounces of water and rinse your mouth with this mixture for two minutes twice a day.
3. Use Fluoride Mouthwash
One of the best methods is to use a fluoride mouthwash. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to stop tooth decay and plaque formation. It has also been proven to be an effective tool for treating bleeding gums.
When using a fluoride mouthwash, rinse your mouth with it after eating or drinking. Spit it out afterward since swallowing it can increase tooth decay risk. This will help reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth, which will help stop the bleeding.
4. Incorporate a Change in Your Diet
Eating a healthier diet is one way you can stop your bleeding gums. Avoid sugary drinks and foods. Sugary drinks contain high amounts of sugar, which can cause tooth decay. Sugary foods include cakes, candies, and pies. Instead, drink water or non-sugar alternatives such as almond milk or coconut milk.
Cut down on acidic foods and drinks. Acids can erode tooth enamel over time. To avoid acidity, try to eat more fruits and vegetables, which are alkaline in nature.
Also, eliminate unhealthy fats from your diet. Unhealthy fats such as saturated fat can lead to gum disease and other oral health problems. Try to replace unhealthy fats with healthy ones, like omega-3 fatty acids found in vegetable oils and nuts.
5. Visiting the dentist
If you’ve had bleeding gums for a prolonged period, it is vital that you visit the dentist right away. Professional dental cleaning should help stop the bleeding. Also, the dentist can diagnose the source of bleeding and recommend proper treatment.
Benefits of Stopping Gum Disease
– Reduces bacteria in the mouth that can cause gum disease
If your gums are bleeding, the chances are that you might also be having gum disease. Gum disease occurs when your oral hygiene practice is not consistent enough to keep plaque and bacteria away from your mouth. Plaque build-up on your teeth causes the bacteria available to start eating your gum line. As this continues, the gums begin to become inflamed, pulling away from the teeth. It also causes them to become tender and bleed easily. Stopping the bleeding, especially through professional dental cleaning, will prevent this condition from worsening into periodontal disease.
– It will help you avoid complicated dental procedures such
Stopping gum bleeding will also help you to prevent severe and complicated dental issues in the future, such as root canals and dental implants. As mentioned above, bleeding gums are most likely caused by inconsistency in oral hygiene. This means that the plaque build-up on the surface of the teeth will cause the bacteria to start eating on the enamel. If not treated, this condition will progress to tooth decay, which might be costly and complicated to treat. Therefore, dealing with bleeding gums as early as possible is important.
– It gives you a bright smile
Dealing with bleeding gums will come a long way to brightening your smile. Proper oral hygiene measures will stop gum bleeding and keep them healthy. Your teeth will also become bright and strong. This will result in a brighter smile.
Bottom Line
Bleeding gums can be a frustrating and painful experience, especially when the problem persists despite your best efforts. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help stop bleeding gums and enjoy healthy gum tissue again. By applying the tips outlined above, you’ll be on your way to restoring gum health and preventing future bleeding episodes.
Visit us at Bayswater Dental Care, and our Bayswater Dentist will diagnose and treat the root cause of your bleeding gums.